Three-way light switch



1964 J. G. FOUTS 3,143,609

THREE-WAY LIGHT SWITCH Filed April 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o l 5 9 l 3 2 l 5 5 3 R o 8 3 T 6 5 8 I L. 5 5 h I m 5 6 2 M a 0/2 a 8 6 I z 2 5 3 4 I 2 I 8 5 2 8 9 8 0 N. 4 2 8 3 4 y 4 4 9 07 7 9 55 a 2 2 98m i 8 3 8 S 6 a 6 3 8 u "0 I|| 2 x n 3 I I 2 I 3 2 JARfD G. FOUTS BY M 2, M

ATTOP/V'YS United States Patent 3,143,609 THREE-WAY LIGHT SWITCH Jared G. Fonts, 1017 S. Pine Crest, Wichita 18, Kans. Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,405 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-51.14)

This invention relates to improvements in three-Way light switches, and more particularly to a switch which may be turned on and off independently of and without passing through the light watt or selector phase of the switch.

Heretofore, in light switches of the three-way type, it has been necessary to turn a switch or knob through the entire phase of low, medium and high and then to the off point in sequence, thus causing time and wear on par-ts in selecting the degree of light desired and in turning on or ofi the switch and when turning on the light again in passing through the various phases to get to the high watt phase.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a structure with a low watt contact and a high watt contact and having a housing with the center or partition dividing the structure into two separate compartments, and wherein the on-off switch is manipulated by a shaft extending through the housing having a knob on the outer side and wherein the high-low watt contact is operated by a selector switch independently of rotation of the shaft.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a housing for the switches, one side housing the on-ofi switch and the other side, the selector switch, each operated independently of the other; to provide a device of this character wherein the on-oii switch may be operated without the Watt selector switch thereby permitting the lamp to be turned on to low, medium, or high watt position without passing through the other selections and wherein the watt selector switch may be rotated to any of the other two selections without passing through the on-otf position, regardless of whether the light is ofi or on; and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture. 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light and its casing with which my switch is adapted to be used.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view with light switch in on" position taken on a line 33, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 wherein the light switch is in off position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken on a line 55, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view with the switch in low position taken on a line 6-6 FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the switch on the medium position.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the switch on in high position.

Referring in more detail to the drawings:

The numeral 1 designates a case or housing of my light switch mechanism having a lower portion 2 and an upper or cover portion 3 of non-conductive material such as plastic, the portion 2 being reduced as indicated at 4 and then further reduced forming a neck 5 for a sleeve member 6 through which the electric cord 7 is extended. Located within the portion 3 of the case is the usual bulb retainer shell 8 for the bulb 9. The bulb has the usual ice base 10, a high watt contact point 11 and a low circular contact point 12 spaced from the high watt contact point as illustrated in FIG. 5.

A body member 13 is contained within the case 1 and is composed of a plastic or porcelain material or other non-conductive material for forming a housing for the mechanism of the switch. The screw shell 8 is of metal construction and a fiber disk or cap 14 engages upon the body 13 and the bulb retainer 8 is secured to the body member by rivets or the like 15 (FIG. 5) as in the usual construction. The pins 15 extend through the annular lower end of the shell 8 as indicated at 16 and through a connection 17 to which the ground wire 18 of the light cord 7 is attached by a screw 19. The hot wire 20 of the cord 7 is connected to a buss or plate 36 by a screw or the like 22.

The chamber or housing 23 formed by the body 13 is divided by a partition or divider 24. The plate 21 fits within one end of the housing or body 13 and has its respective edges engaging in grooves 25 and 26. A lower side of the buss 21 is notched and one leg thereof is bent at an angle as indicated at 27 (FIG. 7) and then laterally as indicated at 33 to lay alongside of the bottom 28 of the housing. Secured to the slanting portion 27 of the buss 21 by a rivet or the like 29 is a low watt spring contact member 30. Secured to the straight vertical portion of plate 21 by a rivet or the like 31 is an on-off spring contact member 32. Secured to the horizontal leg portion 33 of the buss 21 by a rivet 34 is a high watt spring contact member 35.

Mounted in the housing opposite to the buss or plate 21 and spring contact 32 is a buss or plate 36 having one side fitted within a groove 37 and the other side against the partition 24 as illustrated in FlG. 2. Secured substantially midway of the buss 36 by a rivet or the like 38 is an on-oft spring contact member 39. The lower end of the buss 36 is reduced and provided with openings for receiving the screw 22 for securing the wire 20 thereto as illustrated in FIG. 5. A plate 40, having one edge engaging in the groove 41 and the other edge against the partition or divider 24 is located in the housing opposite plate 21 and spring contact 30 as shown in FIG. 2 and has a low Watt bulb contact plate having a lower portion 42 engaging the side of the housing and a slanting portion 43 to which it attached by rivet or the like 44 a low watt spring contact member 45.

The side 46 of the housing is provided with an enlarged portion 47 having a groove 48. The opposite side 49 of the housing is provided with a hub 59 having its outer end portion beveled to engage the inside wall of the case '1. Located within the hub St is a cylindrical bushing member 51 having an opening 52 for receiving a shaft 53 which extends through an opening 54 in the partition 24 and has one end 55 engaging in the groove 48 of the housing, as illustrated in FIG. 2. A Watt selector knob 56 engages over the shaft 53 and has a rib portion 57 engaging in an opening 58 in the case 1 and engaged in a groove (not shown) in the end of the bushing 51, the shaft being rotatable within the bushing 51 upon rotation of the watt selector knob 56. The shaft extends outwardly of the knob 56 and is threaded as indicated at 59 for receiving a threaded socket 59' of a knob 60.

The bearing sleeve member 51 and the hub 50 is of a non-conductive material such as plastic or the like, and integrally formed on the inner end of the sleeve and adapted for rotation within the housing is a watt selector cam or ratchet member 61 having a plurality of lobes 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67 and offset shoulders 68 terminating at each lobe. The selector cam has an opening 69 through which the shaft 53 extends. A watt selector conductor or transversal 70 having flanges 71 engages 3 over the watt selector cam or ratchet member 61 and is frictionally held thereon. The conductor 70 has oppositely facing cut-out portions 72 and 73 in the flanges 71 thereof and the flange. 71 is offset outwardly as ll'ldi'.

cated at 74 and 74' from the flange portions 75 and 76 forming contact points 77, 78, 79, and 80 (FIG. 6) when the transversal 70 encloses the watt selector cam 61. The transversal 70 has a center opening 81 through which the shaft 53 also extends.

An on-off cam or ratchet member 82 of non-conductive material has an opening 82 at the center thereof for receiving the shaft 53 for mounting the cam within the housing. The cam 82 has lobes 83 and 84 with offset faces 85 and 86. An on-olf transversal or contact member 87 has an opening 87 for engaging over the shaft 53 and encloses the cam 82 having facing flanges 88 and 88 forming contact points as later described. The outer face or side 81 of the cam member 82 has an opening 89 and provided with oppositely facing notches 90 and 91 in which are engaged lugs 92 and 92' on the shaft 53 for preventing rotation of the cam member 82 on the shaft 53, the cam 82 rotating with rotation of the shaft and the contact member 87 being frictionally held thereon will rotate therewith.

The plate member 14 has an opening 95 through which a U-shaped, spring high watt bulb contact member 96 extends having one arm for contacting the contact point 11 and the other arm secured to the plate member 14 by a rivet or the like 97. Also secured to one arm of the contact member 96 by the rivet 97 is a U-shaped spring high watt contact member 98 with the free arm 99 thereof adapted to contact the cam member 61 and contact member 70 as later shown. The low watt bulb contact member 40 extends through an opening 100 in the plate member 14 as illustrated in FIG. 6 for contact of the low watt contact point 12 on the bulb.

The selector knob 56 may be graduated from the low point 101 to the intermediate point 102 and the high point 103 having indicia or dots A, B, and C respectively to indicate said low, intermediate and high points for the knob for indicating to the user the position of the knob with respect to the watt of the light being used at each particular turn of the knob. Any particular number or series of watts may be used for the bulb, for instance, 50- 100-150 and the like.

In FIG. 6 there is illustrated the low point position with the spring contact member 30 and 45 in contact with the portion of the contact member 70 as indicated at 104 and 105. When in this position, the member 40 of the buss member has an extension which will contact the low watt contact point 12 of the bulb as shown in FIG. 6, thus energizing the low watt contact of the bulb. When the knob is turned 60 clockwise the flanges of the contact member will be contacted by the spring members 35 and 98 so that the intermediate watt contact points will be energized as shown in FIG. 7. When the knob is turned another 60 clockwise all four points of contact will be made as illustarted in FIG. 8, thus adding the low and intermediate lights to-give the brightest light.

In order to turn off the light when it is positioned at any point, i.e., low, medium, or high, the knob 60 may be rotated independently of the knob 56. It will be noted that in FIG. 3 the spring contact members 32 and 39 are in contact with the flange 88 and 88 of the contactor or transversal 87 whichis the onposition, by turning the knob 60 clockwise one quarter turn the spring contact members 32 and 39 will contact the non-conductive material portion of the cam member 82 as indicated at 106 and 107 (FIG. 4) which is the off position of the switch. When it is desired to again switch on the light it is only necessary to turn the knob 60 another quarter turn to reach the on position as shown in FIG. 3.

Assuming the selector knob 56 is in the high Watt position when the knob 60 is turned to the on position, the high point will be energized, thus saving the time of rotating the switch through the cycle from off, low, medium, and then to high. In other words, whatever point the selector switch 56 is on, either low, medium or high, the on-olf switch may be rotated to de-energize and energize the light at the position at which the selector knob is set.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved three-way light switch wherein theswitch may be turned off and on independently of the selector or watt switch.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What, I claim and desire to receive by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch for a multiple intensity bulb receiving lamp socket having a conductive threaded shell for receiving the lamp bulb base and connected to one side of a power supply and a first and second bulb contact isolated from such shell, said switch comprising:

(a) a housing of non-conductive material, a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and having one end protruding. therefrom,

(b) a first spring contact element connected to said first bulb contact, a secondspring contact element connected to said second bulb contact, third and fourth spring contact elements, a buss bar connect- .ing said thirdv and fourth contact elements to the other side of the power supply,

(0) a circular cam member fixed with respect to said shaft and rotatable within said housing, said cam member having a periphery divided into six equally spaced apart portions, a first two adjacent portions having connected conductive surfaces and a second two adjacent portions being oppositely disposed on said periphery from said first two adjacent portions and having connected conductive surfaces connected to said first named conductive surfaces, the remaining two portions having non-conductive surfaces and being oppositely disposed on said periphery between saidfirst and second two portions,

(d) said first and second spring contact elements being positioned in said housing for respectively contacting adjacent portions as said cam member is rotated, said third and fourth contact elements being positioned in said housing for respectively contacting adjacent portions of said cam member and opposed to said first and second contact elements, whereby the rotation of said shaft produces variations in bulb References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,418 Bailey Aug. 20, 1912.

Gerrie Oct. 10, 1961 

1. A SWITCH FOR A MULTIPLE INTENSITY BULB RECEIVING LAMP SOCKET HAVING A CONDUCTIVE THREADED SHELL FOR RECEIVING THE LAMP BULB BASE AND CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF A POWER SUPPLY AND A FIRST AND SECOND BULB CONTACT ISOLATED FROM SUCH SHELL, SAID SWITCH COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING ONE END PROTRUDING THEREFROM. (B) A FIRST SPRING CONTACT ELEMENT CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST BULB CONTACT, A SECOND SPRING CONTACT ELEMENT CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND BULB CONTACT, THIRD AND FOURTH SPRING CONTACT ELEMENTS, A BUSS BAR CONNECTING SAID THIRD AND FOURTH CONTACT ELEMENTS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POWER SUPPLY, (C) A CIRCULAR CAM MEMBER FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHAFT AND ROTATABLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID CAM MEMBER HAVING A PERIPHERY DIVIDED INTO SIX EQUALLY SPACED APART PORTIONS, A FIRST TWO ADJACENT PORTIONS HAVING CONNECTED CONDUCTIVE SURFACES AND A SECOND TWO ADJACENT PORTIONS BEING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ON SAID PERIPHERY FROM SAID FIRST TWO ADJACENT PORTIONS AND HAVING CONNECTED CONDUCTIVE SURFACES CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST NAMED CONDUCTIVE SURFACES, THE REMAINING TWO PORTIONS HAVING NON-CONDUCTIVE SURFACES AND BEING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ON SAID PERIPHERY BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND TWO PORTIONS, (D) SAID FIRST AND SECOND SPRING CONTACT ELEMENTS BEING POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING FOR RESPECTIVELY CONTACTING ADJACENT PORTIONS AS SAID CAM MEMBER IS ROTATED, SAID THIRD AND FOURTH CONTACT ELEMENTS BEING POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING FOR RESPECTIVELY CONTACTING ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID CAM MEMBER AND OPPOSED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTACT ELEMENTS, WHEREBY THE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT PRODUCES VARIATIONS IN BULB INTENSITY WITHOUT TURNING SAID BULB TO AN OFF CONDITION. 